My Journe Centigraph ticks all the boxes for me. I find it to be the perfect size and thickness. I love the chronograph feature on it with the 1/100 of a second. The time is large and legible as are the sub dials. Its the watch I have been looking for forever, and a grail to me.

I have thoroughly bonded with and enjoy my 3 pieces and because they are classic and/or discontinued there is no need to sell. I can already feel the regret when even the thought of a FS ad crosses my mind.

Even though I never wear it anymore due to the smaller size, I will never sell my first high-end watch a Cartier Santos Moon Phase that was only produced for a short time. I got the watch from my dad who had heard me complain for years that I wanted a Santos. It was the watch that started this very expensive obsession I have.

• It was my first "real" watch.
• I acquired this piece in 2005 right before it was going to be discontinued and replaced with the Master Calendar. I practically called every AD in the US to try to acquire this piece.
• At 37mm, it's perfectly sized for my scrawny wrist.
• With the growth spurt in watches, I consider it to be more challenging to have all these features in a much smaller diameter case.
• As previously mentioned, JLC discontinued this specific Master Moon model.
• Due to financial exigency, I had to sell 4 out of my 6 watches. I have done everything possible to keep this Master Moon - thankfully, I have succeeded to date.
• When I sold my other watches, I made a commitment to myself to acquire future pieces that are truly optimized for my wrist size - the sweet spot is 37mm to 40mm.
• JLC did a wonderful job with this Master Moon.
• It's absolutely gorgeous - can you blame me for not wanting to part ways!!!

I can only assume all things remain constant or better, there are a few pieces that will never be sold. One for sentimental reasons and others were really hard to come by.

But having said that, at the end of the day everything is for sale no? If someone were to offer you an obscene amount of money, even the person whom you felt sentimental to will agree. If I could use that money to get something else, in my mind that new object become sentimental because it's the memory that counts and the proceeds that went towards that new object inherits that.

Sure it wouldn't be the watch you father wore but it's adding your story to it and also builds upon the legacy for the next generation. Perhaps my logic of sentimental is counter intuitive to some but that's my take.

... since this VC is an absolutely gorgeous watch, almost a vintage now, and we know VC makes the most beautiful eternal vintages of all. Love everything about this watch - cool on the whole and in every spectacular detail. A true horological masterpiece IMO. So, stay solvent and pass it on!

:-) Sven

ARS BREVIS:
There is
one art,
no more,
no less:
to do
all things
with art-lessness.
[Piet Hein]

One: admit that, despite what we say, everything is for sale. There's no such thing as an 'absolute keeper' because it's always the case that *some* circumstances are possible in which we would willingly sell the watch.

Two: read the fact that everything is for sale into what we say. So when we say something is an 'absolute keeper' we really mean something like, it's a watch that would be sold only under circumstances that we think are highly unlikely to ever obtain.

Most non-WIS people I talk to don't understand 'flipping' watches. "Oh you were really excited about that one, how could you have sold it?" and I wonder if its not the ownership but the experience of having something, and this can dissipate. I am a little afraid that there will never be a point where you (me anyway) could say, I don't care to buy or own or try on or ogle any new watches. I suppose that's the nature of the hobby.

I am sure some will say "well what if you got offered 10 million dollars for it, would you still not sell??" That defeats the entire purpose. Yes, if someone will buy your "lifetime keeper" that you bought for $500 two years ago and in exchange gives you and many future generations complete financial freedom, of course you would part unless you have a brain disorder.

So let's level the playing field to get to the heart of your question --- so how about this, the definition of an absolute keeper is a watch you wouldn't sell even if you got 2 times the MSRP or 2 times the current market value (whichever is highest).

For me, it's this one (gift from my wife, bought with her in person at the AD in her hometown)

In my world of watches there are no absolute keepers (same with most everything I own). I love my SD 4K and my Omega Speedy, but one day they very well could be traded/sold to acquire another "loved watch." I really don't have sentimental attachments to things I own, so an absolute keeper is never in the cards for me.

I have a modest collection of 3 watches that I have growned quite fond of. I've never sold a watch and although you can never say never, I honestly don't see myself parting with any of them. I do however see myself adding a few more to this trio bunch!

These two for me. The SeaDweller was acquired after professional accomplishment as a "forever" reminder. And the modified SKX has been with me through good and bad times and bears the marks of many wrestling matches with my old Black Lab, who passed away a few years ago. That's irreplaceable